John Patitucci Sr., named point person of the resident group, explained that after flooding through Aug. 14 storms and Hurricane Irene, his Garton Road home sustained extensive damages including the full collapse of a back wall.

“There used to be a 4-foot ditch down the east side of Garton to Parvins Mill where the drains don’t go anywhere anymore,” Patitucci, formerly a member of the Deerfield Township Zoning Board, said. “It used to run east through the Martorana Farm, over Parvins, under the road and drain to a swamp area. ...Farmers plowed over until they did away with drainage ditches. I don’t understand the principle of why they were let go.”

Patitucci and his neighbors identified the lack of properly functioning drainage systems from Parvins Mill Road to Morton Avenue as an issue requiring immediate attention.

“I live on the corner of Garton and Parvins, and mine’s the lowest property. Everyone’s water flows on to my front yard due to elevation, but I had 2-and-a-half feet of water on my yard,” said Tony Passivo. “If the drain worked, the water on my yard would leave. If we could eliminate water to the height of the drain, it could be dealt with easily.”

The resident group also questioned the effects of water retention management and development of Clover Hill Estates, and some brought concerns about neighboring businesses and farms to the committee’s attention.

Garton Road resident Carolyn Miller explained she’d been advised she could remedy drainage issues with a neighboring business by installing a trench with stones; she argued implementation of this solution should fall to the responsibility of the business, claiming management’s changes to the property caused the water problem.

Sara Krupe, a resident at Garton and Richards roads, claimed much of the water that caused nearly $10,000 in damages to her 103-year-old home seemed to have come from agricultural pumping of water into a field nearby her house.

“You’re saying there are two entities causing some of these problems, but we should find out who is liable for what,” said Committeeman Frank Spatola Jr. “Our job is to make everyone accountable.”

The anomalous nature of August’s flooding was acknowledged by both the committee and the residents in attendance, but the township officials agreed to pursue solutions through the county on the residents’ behalf, since Garton is a county road.

“These are immediate problems that don’t have immediate solutions. You have to attend freeholder meetings; it’s important to attack this by two sides,” said Commiteeman Keith Lauermann.

“I’m glad we saw you here tonight. There’s a perception we don’t do things if they’re not brought to our attention. Our next meeting’s in two weeks — come out, ask questions and challenge our answers,” Lauermann said.

“In a problem-solving scenario, you took step one,” Spatola added.Mayor John Stanzione collected residents’ names and contact information on a sheet to take to discussions regarding the drainage problems with county representatives including county engineer Dan Orr. The committee also agreed to look into what plans had been previously approved to determine liability at locations in question.

“I think we have the right committee people; that’s why I’m here tonight,” said Patitucci. “I know we can make it work.”

The next meeting of the Deerfield Township Committee will be held at the Deerfield Township Municipal Building, 736 Landis Avenue, on Wednesday, Oct. 19 at 7 p.m.